Container With Cap

ABSTRACT

A container comprising a container body ( 1 ) with an opening ( 3 ) defining an axis (A) passing therethrough and a cap ( 2 ) having an upper portion ( 6 ) and a skirt portion ( 7 ) for closing the opening, the container body ( 1 ) having an outwardly projecting lip ( 4 ) around the opening ( 3 ), the cap having spaced apart inwardly projecting members ( 8 ) round an inner circumference of the skirt portion ( 7 ) and the lip ( 4 ) having recesses ( 5 ) in a lower part thereof for receiving the members ( 8 ) when the cap ( 2 ) is press fitted to the container ( 1 ), the cap ( 2 ) being arranged so that its circumference is distorted into a substantially polygonal shape as portions of the cap carrying the members ( 8 ) are flexed outwards when the cap ( 2 ) is pressed over the lip ( 4 ) until the members ( 8 ) snap fit into respective recesses ( 5 ) in the lip ( 4 ), the members ( 8 ) and recesses ( 5 ) being shaped such that subsequent rotation of the cap ( 2 ) relative to the container body ( 1 ) tightens the cap ( 2 ) against the lip ( 4 ). Various tamper evident bands connected to the skirt portion ( 7 ) by friable bridges ( 10 A,  20 A,  30 A,  40 A) and/or tether bands ( 10 B,  20 B,  30 B) are also described.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to containers, and particularly tocontainers for supplying beverages to consumers. The invention hasparticular utility for the storage and supply of carbonated and othersparkling drinks, but is also suitable for use with non-carbonateddrinks and other types of beverage or other materials.

BACKGROUND ART

A well known drink container comprises a glass bottle with a crown capformed of metal. The cap is pressed over a lip around the opening of thebottle and held in place by being crimped beneath the lip. Whilst verysuccessful, this form of closure has the disadvantage that it requires atool, e.g. a bottle opener, to prize the cap off the bottle.

Other well know forms of container comprise a plastic bottle with aplastic screw cap. In many cases, these caps can be installed bypressing onto the bottle (rather than being screwed on) but theirremoval requires the cap to be unscrewed, often requiring rotation ofthe cap through 360 degrees or more. This type of closure also requiresthe provision of thread forms on the exterior of the bottle neck.

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to this prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided acontainer comprising a container body with an opening defining an axispassing therethrough and a cap having an upper portion and a skirtportion depending therefrom for closing the opening, the container bodyhaving an outwardly projecting lip around the opening, the cap having aplurality of spaced apart inwardly projecting members around an innercircumference of the skirt portion and the lip having a plurality ofspaced apart recesses in a lower part thereof for receiving said memberswhen the cap is press fitted to the container, the cap being arrangedsuch that the circumference thereof is distorted into a substantiallypolygonal shape as portions thereof carrying said members are flexedoutwards when the cap is initially pressed over the lip until themembers snap fit into respective recesses in the lip, the members andrecesses being shaped such that subsequent rotation of the cap relativeto the container body tightens the cap against the lip.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided acontainer comprising a container body with an opening defining an axispassing therethrough and a cap having an upper portion and a skirtportion depending therefrom for closing the opening, the container bodyhaving an outwardly projecting lip around the opening, the cap having aplurality of spaced apart inwardly projecting members around an innercircumference of the skirt portion and the lip having a plurality ofspaced apart recesses in a lower part thereof for receiving said memberswhen the cap is press fitted to the container body, the cap and recessesbeing shaped such that upon subsequent rotation of the cap relative tothe container body in a loosening direction the circumference of theskirt portion is flexed into a substantially polygonal shape as themembers are driven out of the respective recesses onto an externalsurface of the lip until the cap is free to be moved to an openposition.

According to other aspects of the invention there is provided acontainer body for use in providing such a container and a cap for usein providing such a container.

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a container which has theaesthetics of a crown cap and the convenience of a screw cap.

Another aim is to provide a plastics cap which uses less material andhence is lighter than a conventional plastics screw cap.

Preferred or optional features of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and from the subsidiary claims of thespecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show side views of a container according to a firstembodiment of the invention with a cap shown fitted to a container bodyand shown detached from the container body;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 to 7 show perspective views of a second embodiment of acontainer according to the present invention:

FIG. 4 shows a cap and container body prior to the cap being fittedthereto;

FIG. 5 illustrates how the cap is fitted to the container body;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate how the cap is removed from the container body;and

FIG. 8 shows a cap and container body following removal of the cap fromthe container body.

FIGS. 9-13 show perspective views of a third embodiment of a containeraccording to the present invention:

FIG. 9 shows a cap and container body prior to the cap being fittedthereto;

FIG. 10 shows an underside view of the cap;

FIG. 11 illustrates how the cap is fitted to the container body;

FIG. 12 illustrates how the cap is opened;

FIG. 13 illustrates how the cap may be re-fitted to the container body;

FIGS. 14-18 show perspective views of a fourth embodiment of a containeraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a cap and container body prior to the cap being fittedthereof;

FIG. 15 shows the cap when fitted to the container body;

FIG. 16 shows the cap at a first stage of removal from the containerbody;

FIG. 17 shows the cap at a second stage of removal from the containerbody; and

FIG. 18 shows the cap following removal from the container body.

FIGS. 19-21 show perspective views of a fifth embodiment of a containeraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 19 shows a cap and container body prior to the cap being fittedthereof;

FIG. 20 shows the cap when fitted to the container body; and

FIG. 21 shows the cap following removal from the container body.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a container in the form of a bottle comprising acontainer body 1 and a cap 2 for closing an opening 3 at the upper endof the container body. The opening may, typically, have a diameter ofaround 28 mm.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the neck portion of the container body1 and of the closure cap 2 for fitting to the container body 1. Theopening 3 at the upper end of the container body defines an axis Apassing therethrough.

The container body 1 has an externally projecting lip 4 around theopening 3. A plurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of spacedapart recesses 5 are provided in a lower part of the lip 4. Each ofthese recesses 5 is defined by an upper surface 5A and two end surfaces5B and 5C. The upper part 4A of the lip 4 has a smooth, curved profilesuch that its external diameter decreases at position towards an uppersurface 4B of the lip 4.

The cap 2 comprises an upper portion 6 which a substantially circularskirt portion 7 depending therefrom. A plurality (four in theillustrated embodiment) of spaced apart inwardly projecting members 8(see FIG. 3) are provided around the inner circumference of the skirtportion 7. As will be described below, the members 8 engage withrespective recesses 5 when the cap 2 is fitted to the container body 1.

In order to install the cap 2 onto the container body 1, it is pressedonto the lip 4 so that the members 8 engage the upper surface 4B orcurved surface 4A thereof. As the cap 2 is pressed downwards, themembers 8 slide over the curved surface 4A and are thus driven radiallyoutwards to ride over this surface until they reach the lower part ofthe lip and snap-fit into the respective recesses 5.

As the members 8 are forced radially outwards, the cap 2 is distortedinto a substantially polygonal shape (a four-sided shape with roundedcorners in the illustrated embodiment). This is possible due to thelength of the circumferential spaces between adjacent members 8 and theresilient nature of the skirt portion 7. The inner surface of the skirtportion 7 in the areas between the members 8 is inclined outwardlytowards the open end of the cap 2 so that the diameter of the opening inthe cap increases towards the open end thereof. This also reduces thewall thickness of the skirt portion 7 towards the open end of the cap 2so increasing the resilient flexibility of the cap in this region.Inclination of the inner surface also helps ensure a snug fit betweenthe inner surface of the skirt portion 7 and the inwardly taperingexternal surface of the upper part 4A of the lip when the cap 2 has beenfitted to the container body 1.

As indicated, the spacing between the members 8 helps the skirt portion7 of the cap to be capable of being flexed into a polygonal shape.Preferably, the length of each member 8 in the circumferential directionis less than the circumferential spacing between adjacent members. Inthe embodiment illustrated, the cap has an internal diameter of around28 mm, each member 8 has a circumferential length of around 7-8 mm (attheir largest dimension) and the circumferential spacing betweenadjacent members is around 13-14 mm. The depth of the skirt portion 7(from the upper portion 6 to the open end of the cap) is typically 5-6mm (compared to around 10 mm for a conventional 28 mm diameter screwcap).

Each of the members 8 has an upper surface 8A, a lower surface 8B, endsurfaces 8C and 8D and an inwardly facing surface 8E. The lower surface8B is inclined upwardly in a radial direction, i.e. it slopes upwardlytowards the axis of the cap, so that when the lid is pressed onto thecontainer body the lower surface 8B engages the curved surface 4A of thelip whereby the members 8 are pushed radially outwards as they ride overthe surface 4A towards the lower portion of the lip 4. In thecircumferential direction, the lower surface 8B is substantiallyhorizontal.

As the cap 2 is pushed onto the container body 1, the members 8 are ableto ride over the external surface of the lip 4 as the skirt portion isflexed into a substantially polygonal shape until they reach therecesses 5. The members 8 then snap-fit into the recesses 5 as theresilience of skirt portion 7 brings it back to a substantially circularshape and the members 8 move radially inwards beneath the upper surfaces5A of the recesses 5.

The upper surface 8A of the members are then in engagement with theupper surfaces 5A of the recesses. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the uppersurface 5A of the recesses is inclined in the circumferential directionso that if the cap 2 is then rotated in a tightening direction(clockwise when viewed from above in the illustrated embodiment)relative to the container body 1, the cap 2 is tightened onto thecontainer body 1. This causes the inner surface of the upper portion 6of the cap and/or the inner surface of the skirt portion 7 thereof to bebrought into sealing engagement with the surfaces 4A and/or 4B of thelip 4.

The upper surfaces 8A of the members 8B are substantially horizontal inthe radial direction but are inclined in the circumferential directionto add to the above tightening.

The end surfaces 5B of the recesses 5 provide a stop to prevent the cap2 being over-tightened. Engagement of the end surface 8D of eachprojection with the end surface 5B of the respective recess preventsfurther movement of the cap 2 in the tightening direction relative tothe container body 1. The end surfaces 8D and 5B are both substantiallyvertical and both extend substantially radially towards the axis A.

To release the cap 2 it is rotated in the loosening direction(anticlockwise when viewed from above in the illustrated embodiment)relative to the container body. Initially, this moves each member 8along the respective recesses from the end 5B towards the end 5C. Due tothe inclination of the upper surface 5A of the recess and/or of theupper surface 8A of the member 8, this permits the cap to move at leasta short distance (e.g. 1-2 mm) in the direction of axis A away from thecontainer body 2. This releases the seal between the cap 2 and thecontainer body and permits venting of the container body whereby excesspressure therein (for instance due to a carbonated beverage) may bereleased. The cap 2 is, however, still held captive on the containerbody 1 by the engagement of the members 8 in the recesses 5 so the cap 2cannot fly off the container body 1 as this pressure is released.

Upon further rotation of the cap 2 in the loosening direction, the endsurface 8C of each member engages the end surface 5C of the respectiverecess. These surfaces are both substantially vertical but are inclinedso that as the cap 2 is rotated, the members 8 ride up the end surfaces5C whereby the members 8 are driven radially outwards (resulting in theskirt portion 7 again becoming substantially polygonal in shape) untilthey reach the external surface of the lip 4 in the region 4C betweenadjacent recesses 5.

As mentioned above, the external surface of the lip 4 is inclined sothat the diameter of the lip 4 reduces towards the open end of thecontainer body 1. Due to its resilient nature, the skirt portion 7 ofthe cap tries to revert to a substantially circular shape so there is atendency for the members 5 to slide upwards over the external surface ofthe lip 4 so they can move radially inwards in order for the skirtportion 7 to assume a more circular shape. The cap 2 thus tends to rideup the lip 4 so it moves further in the direction of axis A away fromthe container body 1. This also helps reduce the risk that the members 8inadvertently slip back (clockwise) to re-engage the recess 5 or slipforwards (anticlockwise) to engage the next recess 5.

If it is desired to re-fit the cap 2 to the container body 1, this canbe done by pressing it back over the lip 4 (by means of a downward forcealong the axis A) and clockwise rotation (if it is desired to tighten itonto the lip).

From the above description, it will be appreciated that each member 8thus has a lower surface 8B which is inclined upwardly in a radialdirection but is substantially horizontal in a circumferentialdirection, an upper surface 8A which is substantially horizontal in aradial direction but is inclined in a circumferential direction and twoend surfaces 8C, 8D one of which is laterally inclined in a radialdirection and both of which are substantially vertical in an axialdirection. These four surfaces define the perimeter of an inwardlyfacing surface 8E which, as shown in FIG. 3, is substantiallytriangular. In use, the surfaces 8E lie adjacent the external surface ofthe container 1 within the recesses 5.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate a container according to a second embodiment of theinvention. This is similar to the container shown in FIGS. 1-3 but alsohas a first type of tamper evident feature. Parts of the container ofFIGS. 4-8 which correspond to those of the container of FIGS. 1-3 aregiven the same reference numeral but increased by 10.

The cap 12 is similar to the cap 2 but has a tamper band 10 dependingfrom the skirt portion 17 thereof. The tamper band 10 is connected tothe skirt portion 17 by a plurality (sixteen in the illustrated example)of small, friable bridges 10A and a plurality (four in the illustratedexample) of tether bands 10B. A plurality (four in the illustratedexample) of projections 10C project radially inwards from the innersurface of the tamper band 10.

When the cap 12 is pressed onto the container body 11 in the directionD1 shown in FIG. 5, the skirt portion 17 is flexed into a substantiallypolygonal shape as the members 18 ride over the lip 14 until they engagerecesses 15 as in the first embodiment. In addition, the projections 10Cride over the lip 14 when the cap 12 is pressed onto the container body11 and, once the cap 12 has been rotated in the direction D2 shown inFIG. 5, the projections 10C are located beneath lower surfaces 14D ofthe portions 14C of the lip 14 between the recesses 15.

The lower surfaces 14D of the lip 14 are inclined in the circumferentialdirection so that when the cap 12 is rotated in the direction D3 (theloosening direction) as shown in FIG. 6, the projections 10C are drivendownwards as illustrated by arrow D4 in FIG. 6. As the remainder of thecap 12 is unable to move downwards (as it is engaged on the uppersurface of the lip 14), this causes rupture of the friable bridges 10A(as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7).

The projections 10C are positioned on the band 10 so that once themembers 18 have moved along the recesses 15 to engage the end surfaces15C thereof and ride up these onto the external surface of lip 14(flexing the skirt portion 27 into a substantially polygonal shape), theprojections 10C have moved along the lower surfaces 14D to the adjacentrecess 15. The cap 12 is then free to be removed in the direction D5(with the tamper band 10 connected thereto by the tether bands 10B) asshown in FIG. 7 and detached from the container body 11 as shown in FIG.8.

FIGS. 9-13 illustrate a container according to a third embodiment of theinvention. This is similar to the container shown in FIGS. 1-3 but alsohas a second type of tamper evident feature. Parts of the container ofFIGS. 7-13 which correspond to those of the containers of FIG. 1-3 aregiven the same reference numeral but increased by 20.

The cap 22 is similar to the cap 2 but has a tamper band 20 dependingfrom the skirt portion 27 thereof. The tamper band 20 is connected tothe skirt portion 27 by a plurality (about twenty four in theillustrated example) of small, friable bridges 20A and a single tetherband 20B. A lower portion 20D of the tamper band is folded inwards (asillustrated by arrow B in FIG. 10) so that the upwardly facing edge 20Ethereof projects radially inwards from the inner surface of the tamperband 20 around the entire internal circumference thereof.

When the cap 22 is pressed onto the container body 21 in the directionD1 shown in FIG. 11, the skirt portion 27 is flexed into a substantiallypolygonal shape as the members 28 ride over the lip 24 until they engagerecesses 25 as in the first embodiment. In addition, the edge 20E of thetamper band 20 rides over the lip 24 when the cap 22 is pressed onto thecontainer body 21 and is a snap-fit beneath lower surfaces 24D of thelip 24. Lower surfaces 24D are shown inclined in the circumferentialdirection in FIGS. 9-13 but in this embodiment they could also behorizontal. Cap 22 is rotated in the direction D2 shown in FIG. 11 totighten it onto the container 11 as in the first embodiment.

When the cap 22 is rotated in the loosening direction, the members 28ride up the end surfaces 25C of the recesses 25 (flexing the skirtportion 27 into a substantially polygonal shape) so the upper portion 26and skirt portion 27 are able to move upwards as in the first embodimentbut the tamper band 20 is prevented from doing so by the engagement ofthe edge 20E of portion 20D under the lower surfaces 24D of the lip 24.This causes rupture of the friable bridges 20A although the tamper band20 remain connected to the remainder of the cap 22 by the tether band20B. The tamper band 20 is then free to slide down the external surfaceof the container body 21 in the direction D6 shown in FIG. 12 whilst theremainder of the cap can be pivoted away from the opening 23 as shown byarrow C.

A circular ridge 21A is provided around the neck of container body 21and the tamper band 20 can be pushed down over this so the edge 20E ofthe upstanding portion 20D passes over the ridge 21A and is then trappedbeneath it so that the tamper band is held in this position (as shown inFIG. 12). This prevents the tamper band sliding back up towards theopening 23 when the container body is tilted to pour a beveragetherefrom. The tether 20B is, however, of a sufficient length such thatthe cap 22 can be re-fitted to the container body 21 (as shown in FIG.13) by pressing it down again over the lip 24 (and screwed tight ifdesired).

FIGS. 14-19 illustrate a container according to a fourth embodiment ofthe invention. This is similar to the container shown in FIGS. 1-3 butalso has a third type of tamper evident feature. Parts of the containerof FIGS. 14-19 which correspond to those of the container of FIGS. 1-3are given the same reference numeral but increased by 30. The containerbody in this embodiment is suited to being made of glass (although canalso be made of plastic).

The cap 32 is similar to the cap 2 but has a tamper band 30 dependingfrom the skirt portion 37 thereof. The tamper band 30 is connected tothe skirt portion 37 by a plurality (eight in the illustrated example)of small, friable bridges 30A and a plurality (four in the illustratedexample) of tether bands 30B. A plurality (eight in the illustratedexample) of projections 30C project radially inwards from the innersurface of the tamper band 30.

The container body 31 is similar to that of the first embodiment but inaddition has a plurality (four in the illustrated example) ofprojections 31A which project radially outward from the exterior wall ofthe body 31 at a position below and spaced from the outwardly projectinglip 34 (see FIGS. 14 and 18).

When the cap 32 is pressed onto the container body 31, the skirt portion37 is flexed into a substantially polygonal shape as inwardly projectingmembers 38 (not shown) ride over the lip 34 until they engage recesses35 as in the first embodiment. In addition, the projections 30C rideover the lip 34 when the cap 32 is pressed onto the container body 31and, once the cap 32 has been rotated in the tightening direction, theprojections 30C are located at the level of the projection 31A referredto above.

When the cap 32 is rotated in the loosening direction, the projections30A on the cap 32 engage the projections 31A on the container body 31 soas to halt rotation of the tamper band 30 relative to the container body31. Further rotation of the cap 32 in the loosening direction thuscauses rupture of the friable bridges 30A as well as moving members 38(not shown) of the cap 32 out of the recesses 35 in the lip 34 of thecontainer body 31. The tether bands 30B are concertinered during thisrelative rotation as illustrated in FIG. 16. The cap 32 is then free tobe removed from the container body 31. The tamper band 30 remainsconnected to the cap 32 by the tether bands 30B and is thus removedalong with the cap 32 as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIGS. 19-21 illustrate a container according to a fifth embodiment ofthe invention. This is similar to the container shown in FIGS. 1-3 butalso has a fourth type of tamper evident feature. Parts of the containerof FIGS. 19-21 which correspond to those of the containers of FIG. 1-3are given the same reference numeral but increased by 40.

The cap 42 is similar to the cap 2 but has a tamper band 40 dependingfrom the skirt portion 47 thereof. The tamper band 20 is connected tothe skirt portion 27 by a plurality (eight in the illustrated example)of small, friable bridges 40A. A plurality (four in the illustratedexample) of projections 40C project radially inwards from the innersurface of the tamper band 40.

The container body 41 is similar to that of the first embodiment but inaddition has a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of projections41A which project radially outward from the exterior wall of the body 41at positions below and spaced from the outwardly projecting lip 44 (seeFIGS. 19 and 21). In this embodiment, a groove 41B is provided in thecontainer wall for gripping by a blow moulding tool. This groove divideseach projection 41A into two parts.

When the cap 42 is pressed on the container body 41, the skirt portion47 is flexed into a substantially polygonal shape as inwardly projectingmembers 48 (now shown) ride over the lip 44 until they engage recesses45 as in the first embodiment. In addition, the projections 40C rideover the lip 44 when the cap 42 is pressed onto the container body 41and, once the cap 42 has been rotated in the tightening direction, theprojections 40C are located at the level of the projections 41A referredto above.

When the cap 42 is rotated in the loosening direction, the projections40C on the cap 42 engage the projections 41A on the container body 41 soas to halt rotation of the tamper band 40 relative to the container body41. Further rotation of the cap 42 in the loosening direction thuscauses rupture of the friable bridges 40A as well as moving members 48(not shown) of the cap 42 out of the recesses 45 in the lip 44 of thecontainer body 41. The cap 42 is then free to be removed from thecontainer body 41.

The tamper band 40 is separated from the cap 42 upon rupture of thefriable bridges 40A and drops down the neck of the container 41 as shownin FIG. 21 to a position at which the external diameter of the container41 is similar to the internal diameter of the band 40. Alternatively,the band 40 may be lifted off the neck of the container 41 separatelyfrom the cap 42.

In each of the embodiments described, the cap may be formed of aplastics material, e.g. by injection moulding. The container body mayalso be formed of a plastics material, e.g. by injection moulding andblow moulding. The container body may, however, also be made of glass.

The diameter of the opening of the container body preferably lies in therange 25-30 mm, e.g. as typically used for bottles. However, theinvention may also be used on containers with other size openings,including diameters up to 50 mm and wide mouth openings (which typicallyhave a diameter in the range 50-80 mm).

In the embodiments described, the cap is provided with four internallyprojecting members for engaging four recesses in the lip of thecontainer body. Other embodiments may use more or less members andrecesses. Preferred embodiments have three, four or five members andrecesses. Four members (and recesses) may, for example, be used for acontainer opening with a diameter in the range 25-35 mm, five for acontainer with an opening in the range 35-45 mm and six for an openingin the range 45-55 mm. More members (and recesses) may be used for agiven diameter but the greater the number the less flexible the skirt ofthe cap will be (although, with a large number of members each needproject inwards by a smaller distance).

It will be appreciated that the container employs two separate cammingactions to distort the skirt portion of the cap into a substantiallypolygonal shape, one when the cap is fitted to the container body andthe other when the cap is removed therefrom. In the first case, theinwardly projecting members on the cap are forced radially outwards overthe lip as the cap is press-fitted to the container body. In the secondcase, the members are forced radially outwards by ramps at the ends ofrecesses in the lip as the cap is rotated relative to the containerbody.

Containers having the features described above can thus be press-fittedto a container body and can be opened by a relatively small rotationalmovement (depending on the number of projecting members used). With fourmembers, the cap need be rotated less than 90 degrees to release it fromthe container body. In addition, no external threads need be provided onthe neck of the container body. The neck may therefore have a smoothaesthetically pleasing appearance, e.g. as on a conventional glassbottle neck.

The cap, which is preferably formed of a plastic material, can thus bepress-fitted to the container, the container need not have threadportions on the exterior of the neck and the cap can be removed by arelatively small rotational movement. Optionally, the cap may bearranged so it can be re-fitted by a user. The cap thus combines theadvantages of a conventional crown closure and a conventionalscrew-threaded cap and bottle neck. It also uses significantly lessmaterial than a conventional plastic screw cap so saves on material costand weight.

1. A container comprising a container body with an opening defining anaxis passing therethrough and a cap having an upper portion and a skirtportion depending therefrom for closing the opening, the container bodyhaving an outwardly projecting lip around the opening, the cap having aplurality of spaced apart inwardly projecting members around an innercircumference of the skirt portion and the lip having a plurality ofspaced apart recesses in a lower part thereof for receiving said memberswhen the cap is press fitted to the container, the cap being arrangedsuch that the circumference thereof is distorted into a substantiallypolygonal shape as portions thereof carrying said members are flexedoutwards when the cap is initially pressed over the lip until themembers snap fit into respective recesses in the lip, the members andrecesses being shaped such that subsequent rotation of the cap relativeto the container body tightens the cap against the lip.
 2. A containeras claimed in claim 1 in which a lower surface of the members and anupper surface of the lip are shaped such that as the lid is pressedaxially onto the container, the members are driven outwards so the capis resiliently flexed and the members are able to pass over the externaldiameter of the lip.
 3. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which thelength of each member in a direction around the circumference of the capis less than the circumferential spacing between adjacent members.
 4. Acontainer as claimed in claim 1 in which an inner wall of the skirtportion in spaces between said members is inclined outwardly towards theopen end of the cap.
 5. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which eachof the recesses has an upper surface and first and second end surfaces,the upper surface being inclined or curved so that the first end surfaceextends further in the axial direction than the second end surface.
 6. Acontainer as claimed in claim 5 in which the second end surface forms astop to limit rotation of the cap in said tightening direction.
 7. Acontainer as claimed in claim 5 in which the first end surface forms aramp along which the respective member slides when the cap is rotated ina loosening direction whereby the skirt portion of the cap is flexed toa substantially polygonal shape as each of the members moves out of therespective recess onto an external surface of the lip so the cap is freeto be moved to an open position.
 8. A container as claimed in claim 1 inwhich each member has a lower surface which is inclined upwardly in aradial direction but is substantially horizontal in a circumferentialdirection, an upper surface which is substantially horizontal in aradial direction but is inclined in a circumferential direction and twoend surfaces one of which is laterally inclined in a radial directionand both of which are substantially vertical in an axial direction.
 9. Acontainer as claimed in claim 1 in which the cap has a tamper bandconnected to the skirt portion by friable connections.
 10. A containeras claimed in claim 9 in which when the cap is fitted to the containerbody, the tamper band engages an underside of the lip.
 11. A containeras claimed in claim 10 in which the tamper band has one or moreprojections on an inner surface thereof which engage said lip such thatrotation of the tamper band relative to the container body in theloosening direction causes axial separation of the tamper band and skirtportion resulting in breakage of one or more of the friable connections.12. A container as claimed in claim 11 in which at least one tetherconnection is provided between the tamper band and skirt portion so thatthe tamper band remains attached to the cap even when all the friableconnections have been broken.
 13. A container as claimed in claim 12 inwhich the said one or more projections are such that upon furtherrotation of the tamper band relative to the container body, the tamperband and cap can be removed from the container body together.
 14. Acontainer as claimed in claim 12 in which said one or more projectionsare such that the tamper band remains attached to the container body andsaid one or more tether connections are such that the cap can be pivotedaway from the opening.
 15. A container as claimed in claim 14 in whichonce the cap has been pivoted away from the opening, the tamper band canbe slid to a position further from the opening, engagement means beingprovided on the container body to retain the tamper band in thisposition.
 16. A container comprising a container body with an openingdefining an axis passing therethrough and a cap having an upper portionand a skirt portion depending therefrom for closing the opening, thecontainer body having an outwardly projecting lip around the opening,the cap having a plurality of spaced apart inwardly projecting membersaround an inner circumference of the skirt portion and the lip having aplurality of spaced apart recesses in a lower part thereof for receivingsaid members when the cap is press fitted to the container body, the capand recesses being shaped such that upon subsequent rotation of the caprelative to the container body in a loosening direction thecircumference of the skirt portion is flexed into a substantiallypolygonal shape as the members are driven out of the respective recessesonto an external surface of the lip until the cap is free to be moved toan open position.
 17. A container as claimed in claim 16 in which eachof the recesses has an end surface that forms a ramp along which therespective member slides when the cap is rotated in a looseningdirection whereby the member moves out of the recess onto an externalsurface of the lip so the cap is free to be moved to an open position.18. A container as claimed in any preceding claim having from two to sixprojecting members equally spaced around the internal surface of theskirt portion.
 19. A container as claimed in claim 18 having fourprojecting members equally spaced around the internal surface of theskirt portion.
 20. A container as claimed in claim 16 in which theopening has a diameter in the range 25-30 mm.
 21. (canceled) 22.(canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. (canceled)